2-4-2024 (BANGKOK) The Office of the Thai Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) welcomed the extradition of two Thai nationals suspected of drug trafficking from Malaysia today.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Panurat Lakboon, the Secretary-General of the ONCB, announced that the suspects were handed over to the ONCB Regional Office 9, Narathiwat Provincial Police, Narathiwat Immigration Police, and military officers from ISOC Region 4 at the Thai-Malaysian border in Sungai Kolok District, Narathiwat Province.
The arrests are a result of a drug seizure that occurred in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, Thailand, on November 3, 2023. During the operation, law enforcement discovered 499 kilograms of methamphetamine and 100 kilograms of ketamine concealed in a pickup truck involved in an accident. The driver of the truck managed to escape the scene.
According to Pol. Lt. Gen. Panurat, the two extradited suspects were also linked to the drug trafficking ring. They were apprehended in Malaysia for illegal entry and subsequently deported back to Thailand.
In a statement, Pol. Lt. Gen. Panurat stated that the ONCB will expand the investigation to identify all individuals involved in this case, considering the significant quantity of drugs seized. He further expressed his belief that this network is connected to drug trafficking activities in the southern part of Thailand, including the smuggling of drugs across borders or via cargo ships to third countries.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Panurat highlighted the proactive stance of Thailand’s Prime Minister and Justice Minister in pursuing cooperation with foreign countries in combating drug trafficking. He emphasized that the ONCB will collaborate with neighboring nations to extradite the suspects and bring them to trial in Thailand.
